In terms of the general quality of life, retiring in Italy is unrivalled. It’s a land rich in history, historical marvels, magnificent cities, never-ending cultural feasts, and delicious cuisine. Although Rome and Florence are not cheap, the rest of Italy offers some of the best lifestyle deals in Europe. If you want to experience traditional European life on a budget, you should choose to retire in Italy.
- Italy’s Dining and Drinking
A talk on life in Italy would be incomplete without mentioning the food of the country. You might believe you know Italian cuisine, but it’s much more subtle and intricate than you think.
Finding new dishes, even lesser-known regional delights, is one of the most enjoyable parts of life in Italy. Every one of the country’s 20 regions makes its unique wine, which could be an ideal way of spending your final years.
There are no chain stores or fast-food outlets outside of the major cities. In Italy, dining is a leisurely process. A full Italian supper consists of five courses, each of which should be enjoyed slowly. And no feast is complete unless it is followed by a cup of coffee.
There’ll always be room for coffee in Italy. You’ll be given one before any encounter or conversation, and you must always take it. You should respond by handing a cup to any guest or visitor that comes to your house or office.
- Italy’s housing
You’ll have to find a spot to rent if you want to take full advantage of Italy’s presently depressed real estate market and buy a home. Italians aren’t usually tenants, especially outside of the country’s major cities. Since the vast majority of people are homeowners, there is a scarcity of long-term tenants. Getting a room to rent yearly takes time and involves a word-of-mouth search on the ground.
When you do find a property to rent, though, the price is likely to be below. You may rent a place in Abruzzo for as little as 200 to 300 euros per month.
- Residing in Italy
You must start the residency application procedure in Italy from your native country. Do not come to retire in Italy to become a permanent resident until you have obtained the necessary stamp on your visa from the Italian embassy in your native country. This stamp serves as a temporary residence visa that can be renewed up to five times. You can seek permanent residency at the expiration of those 5 years.
Most retirees choose the elective residency permit, which allows them to live in the nation and not work. This visa does not allow you to work in Italy, however, it does allow you to do remote business or work for yourself. To be eligible, you must prove that you can sustain yourself without relying on the Italian economy. A steady revenue of a minimum of 31,000 euros each year for a person and at least 38,000 euros a year for a pair will be sought by the Italian government. You must also give an Italian domicile and proof of health insurance that covers at least 30,000 euros in health bills.
- Shopping in Italy
You may not even go inside a store very often if you live in the Italian countryside. Italians buy at locally run shops and supermarkets beyond the big cities, and some even raise their goods.
There are perks of shopping locally. You will get direct access to Italy’s world-famous products at a lower price. Also, going to small local shops allows you to meet your neighbors.
The Bottom Line
There is no retiree program in Italy. However, we know the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The list goes on and on: breathtaking landscape, cheap real estate, some of the best food in the world, abundant culture and ancient monuments to fill a lifetime, and so on. So, good luck with your plans and retiring in Italy.
